Coin operated dispensing device



Feb. 23, 1960 R, M, TERRY 2,925,898

' I COIN OPERATED DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Dec. 17, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENT OR. I RAYMOND M. TERRY A T TOPNL' Y Feb; I 23, 1960 R. M. TERRY2,925,898

COIN OPERATED DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Dec. 17, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR. RAYMOND M. TERRY A T TORNEV Feb. 23, 1960 R. M. TERRY COINOPERATED DISPENSING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 17, 1956INVENTOR. MYMOND M TERRY A T TORNEV 1.,"- IIIII'I'I'IIII" III f/GLS Feb.23, 1960 R. M. TERRY COIN OPERATED DISPENSING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4Filed Dec. 17, 1956 INVENTOR. RAYMOND M. 7 ERR) A T TORWEV COIN OPERATEDDISPENSIIIIG DEVICE Raymond M. Terry, Oakland, Calif. ApplicationDecember 17, 1956, Serial No. 628,856

4 Claims. (Cl. 194-54) This invention relates to a coin operateddispensing device. More particularly it relates to a coin operatedmechanism of a type suited for dispensing of newspapers or other similararticles.

In vending newspapers from untended racks, a problem exists which is ofsome what different character than exists in the vending of articles ofrelatively small size, precise dimensions and regulargeometric shape,such as packages of cigarettes, candy bars and the like. Thus newspapersvary in bulk and do not lend themselves as well to ejection from avending machine as do articles of uniform shape and dimensions. Also,there is frequently a differential between theprice of Sunday newspapersand weekday newspapers. Accordingly the vending machine should be onewhich is adjustable for Sunday use and for weekday use. It is importantthat such adjustment means be. simple .in its operation, such thatadjustments can be made without any particular skill, for

example, by a man who delivers newspapers and is not a 1 skilledmechanic.

Another-'desideratum in newspaper vending machines,

is the ability to accept several combinations of coins which add up tothe same total. Thus, if the price of a newspaper, is ten cents, it isadvantageous to employ a vending apparatus which will accept a dime, twonickels, one nickel and five pennies'or ten pennies. To my knowledge nocoin mechanism has been provided for newspaper vending machines whichwill accomplish this.

. It is an object of the present invention to provide an operatedvending mechanism'for the purposeof vending I newspapers which is simplein -its design, which is readily adjustable and which'is' simple anddependable in its operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a coin operatedmechanism for latching and unlatching a housing or cover member, such asthe weather cover of a newspaper vendingapparatus'which will acceptseveral coin combinations having the same monetary value (e.g., onedime, two nickels, a nickel plus five pennies, and ten penmics) andwhich will reject andretu'rn all other coin combinations; such mechnaismbeing easily adjustable for different totals (c.g, for a ten cent price,'a twenty cent price and an eleven cent price). I

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from theensuing description and the appended claims.

One form of the invention is shown by way of example in the accompanydrawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a newspaper vending2,925,898 Patented Feb. 23, 1960 nism of the invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary, rear view in perspective, of the apparatus ofFigure 1, showing the coin operated dispensing mechanism attached to therear of the apparatus and with its cover in place.

Figure 3 is a rear view in perspective of the coin operated dispensingmechanism of the invention with the cover removed. d

Figure 4 is a section taken along the line 4-4 of Fig ure 3.

Figure 5 is a section taken along the line 55 of Figure 2, showing inside elevation the coin operated dispensing mechanism of the invention.

Figure 6 is a view similar to that shown in Figure 5, but showing theapparatus at a diiferent stage of operation. Figure 7 is a View alongthe line 77 of Figure 6 showing the gauging and locking pawl of theinvention in side,

elevation and in contact with coins deposited in the mechanism.

Figure 8 is a View similar to Figure 6 but at a still later stage in theoperation of the mechanism.

Figure 9 is a view similar to that shown in Figure 6 but showing themanner in which the mechanism operates to reject and return coins whichare not 'of the proper selection.

Referring now to the drawings and principally to Figures l and 2, thecoin operated dispensing mechanism of the invention is illustrated inconnection with a newspaper vending apparatus which is generallydesignated by the' reference numeral 10. It will, however, be understoodthat the coin operated mechanism of the invention can be employed formany other purposes.

The newspaper vending device 10 comprises a frame 11 formed of sheetmetal and having legs 11a. Hinged to its rear is a leg orrear brace 12of U-shape which, together with the front legs 11a provides support forthe apparatus. A transparent glass or plastic case or weather cover isprovided at 13 which has a rigid frame member 14 which is hinged at 15to the main frame 11 (see Figure 2). The case is pitched at an anglesuch that its weight normally holds it in closed position. Bottomsupport rodsare provided at 16 which are fixed to and project forwardlyfrom the main frame 11 and which provide bottom supportfor newspapers.Side bars are provided at 17 which are fixed to and project forwardlyfrom the main frame 11 and which provide lateral support. A quantity ofnewspapers are shown at 18 which are supported at the bottom by the rods16 and along the sides bythe bars 17. A handle or finger hold isprovided at 19 which is fixed to the bottom of the frame 14 for thepurpose of grasping to pull the case 13 outwardly and open it."Coinslots are provided at 20a and 20b above the case 13. Each slot maybe of a size to permit the insertion of'coins of a certain diameter,more or less. In any event, as explained herein below, the slot 20a isintended to receive certain coins (e.g., dimes and pennies) and theother slot 20b is intendedto receive other coins, e.g., nickels andpennies. Suitable instructions (not shown) will appear on the frame 11adjacent the slots.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 3, the coin operateddispensing mechanism of the invention is there shown and is generallydesignated by the reference numeral 25. It is surrounded by an angleframe 26 prowhich is fixed to and extends through the bottom of the acoin return chute 33a adjacent an opening 35 which is formed in thecover 23 and which is shown in Figures 2 and 5. It isthe purpose of thecoin return chute 33a to guide-rejected coins to a position where theycan be reached by inserting a finger in the opening 35. The

to act as a cam against the frame 11 and catch member 66 upon return ofthe case 13 from open position.

That is, once the case is opened in the manner described hereinafter,and is then released it drops by gravity toward closed position and theslanting cam surface 62 acts against the frame 11 and catch member 66,which deflects the hook 58 downwardly. This allows the case 13 to closecompletely. The hook 58 then returns, under the influence of the leafspring .64, to its normal, elevated, latching position. It will,therefore, be apparent that I the hook 58 and leaf spring 64 act as aone way latch manner in which improperly selected coins are rejectedisdescribed hereinafter.

The vertical. portion 34 of the bafile member 33 together with theopposing rear surface of the main frame member 11, provide a coin box orreceptacle for accepted coins, and it is indicated'by the referencenumeral 36. Access to such coins, of course, is bymeans of a key for thelock 31.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 3, the coin mechanism isgenerally designated by the reference numeral 25. It is divided,however, by a vertical plate 40 into duplicate mechanisms 25a and 25b.The plate 40 is welded or otherwise fixed to the rear surface of themain frame member 11. The reason that duplicate coin mechanisms 25a and25b are employed will be apparent from the description hereinafter.However, it will be understood that, where conditions permit, only onecoin mechanism may be employed. Alternatively, where conditions require,three or more coin mechanisms may be employed. Inasmuch as the coinmechanisms 25a and 25b are substantial duplicates, one of the other,onlythe mechanism 25a will be described in detail.

A coin-hopper 41 is provided which is fixed to the plate 40 beneath thecoin slot 20a, so that coins dropped through the slots 20a will dropinto the hopper. Beneath the hopper 41 a channel member 42 is providedwhich is fixed to the plate 40 to provide a coin passage or chute 43(see Figure 4). A

The channel member 42 is formed with a vertical slot .44 having apurpose explained hereinafter. The plate 40 is formed with a slot 45 tothe left of the plate 42 (as viewed in Figure 3) which is intended toreceive a screw 46- which is clamped in place in any position desired bymeans of a wing nut 47 and lock washer 47a. The screw 46 carries abracket 48 having an outwardly projecting ear 48a, on which a pivot pin49 is carried. The pin 49 pivotally supports a gauging and locking pawlor trap member 50., The pawl 50 is best shown in Figure 7. It has anoutwardly projecting nose 55,, the upper, cam surface of which has adownward slant at 56 in the direction of the coin passage 43. The lower,trapping surface 57 of the nose 55 is horizontal.

The pawl 50 swings in'the slot 44 and it is counter weighted so that itnormally assumes the position shown in Figure 7 with its nose 55 in thecoin chute 43.

A catch lever or latch hook 58 is provided which the case 13, thevertical surface 63 of nose 61 of the hook 58 will strike a ledge 65 ona resilient catch member 66. That is to say, the normal arc of movementof the nose 61 of hook 58 coincides with the catch member 66. Therefore,the case 13 is normally held in latched position unless and until thehook 58 is deflected downwardly against the force of the leaf spring 64to clear the ledge 65. It is the function of the slanting surface 62which normally acts to prevent opening but always permits closing thecase 13.

The means whereby this latch is opened when a proper selection of coinshas been inserted, will now be described.

A cam member or ramp 70 is provided which'is fixed to the hook 58. Itwill be noted that only one hook 58 and one catch member 66 areprovided, both of which are located on that side of .plate 49 which isvisible in Figure 3. Also, only one ramp 70 is provided. However, theramp 70 bridges the two sides of the device so that it is acted upon bycoins dropped into either of the mechanisms 25a and 25b. it will be seenthat the ramp 70 is formed at its left-hand end (as viewed in Figures 5and 6) with a dog leg or cam portion 71 which includes a rise portion72, a high point or peak 72b and a. recede 720. When the case 13 is inclosed position, the cam portion 71 lies slightly to the left of the twocoin chutes 43 as viewedin Figures 5 and 6.

Referring now to Figure 7, and assuming that the coin mechanism 25a isto be set for a nickel and a penny (which are shown at 73 and 74,respectively) the corresponding pawl 56 will be set as follows: The twocoins (a nickel and a penny) are inserted in either order in therespective hopper 41. They will come to rest with the bottomcoin on theramp 70 and the top coin beneath the pawl 50. The wing nut 47 (seeFigure 4) of the pawl 50 will be loosened and it will be adjusted up or.down until it is free to swingback into the normal position shown inFigure 7 with a very small clearance (e.g., between its horizontalsurface 57 and the top coin. (In practice, each device will be suppliedwith a gauge strip (not shown) adjacent each slot 45 so that a personadjusting the device can adjust the pawls 50 by means of indicia on thegauge strip. This will eliminate the necessity of dropping in coins andadjusting the pawls for proper clearance.)

Assume, now, that the pawl 50 of the mechanism 25a has been set in themanner described for a nickel and a penny, and that a nickel and a pennyhave been inserted and occupy the position shown at 73 and 74 in Figure5. .Whenthe handle 19 is pulled to open the case 13, the bottom coin-73will ride up the rise portion 72a of ramp 70 until the top coin 74contacts the horizontal surface 5'7 of pawl 50. Since the coins cannotmove upwardly any further, continued outward movement of the case 13will, of necessity, cause a downward deflection of the ramp 70 and thehook 58. When the high point '72!) reaches dead center in relation tothe coins 73 and 74, the hook 58 will bedeflected sufiiciently to clearthe ledge 65 of latch memberf66-and will be in the position shownin-Figure 6. The case 13, can, therefore, be opened to allow access'tothe newspapers '18.

Not only do the proper coins act in conjunction with the pawls 5t) andthe ramp 70 to unlatch the case 13, but the accepted coins dnop into'thecoin box 36. (See Figure 8.) Then, when the user extracts a newspaperand releases the handle 19, the case 13 will drop back toward closedposition, and the slanting cam surface 62 of hook 58 will .deflectthehook to allow the case to close completely.

It sometimes happens that a coin, in falling through the slot 43, willbouncewhen it strikes the ramp 70 in such a direction that it isejected. To prevent this a pair of guard pawls are provided, one ofwhich is shown in a, a. .m

Figures 3, 5, 6, 8 and 9. These guard pawls are fixed to a pin 86 whichis rotatably mounted in the plate 40, one pawl being located on one sideof the plate 40 and the other pawl being located on the otherside of theplate 40. The pawls 85 are free to pivot with the pin 86 but mustpivot'together. Each pawl 85 has an edge 87 which normally liesalongside the respective coin slot 43. The combined mass of the pawls 85is sufficient to rebound any coin which bounces to the left (as viewedin Figures 5, 6, 8 and 9); hence these pawls act to confine coins to thecoin slot 43.

Assume, now, that an improper coin combination (e.g., two pennies, shownat 75 and 76 in Figure 9) have been inserted. If two pennies rather thana penny and a nickel are inserted, their combined diameter will be lessthan the combined diameter of a nickel and a penny. Accordingly therewill be an excessive clearance between the top coin 76 and thehorizontal edge 57 of the pawl 50. Therefore, when the handle 19 ispulled outwardly, the coins 75 and 76 will ride up the rise 72a of theramp 70 without contacting the pawl edge 57. Therefore the hook 58 willremain undeflected, its vertical edge 63 will contact the ledge 65 andthe case 13 will remain locked.

It is desirable, not only that an improper coin combination be rejectedin this manner but also that the rejected coins be returned. This object(return of rejected coins) is accomplished in the following manner: Asthe peak 72b of the ramp 70 reaches dead center in relation to the coins7S and 76, the book 58 will engage. the ledge 65. The catch member 66is. a piece of resilient steel which is fixed at the top to frame 11 butis free at the bottom and is bent outwardly away from the frame 11.Continued movement of the hook 58 toward the right will cause the bottomportion of catch member 66 to deflect in the same direction until itcontacts the frame 11. The peak 72b therefore passes dead center inrelation to the coins and the slanting recede portion 720 of the ramp 70also passes somewhat to the right of the coins, i.e., to the right asviewed in Figure 9. When the case 13 is released and returns to closedposition, the recede portion 720 of ramp 70 ejects the bottom coin 75.The adjacent pawl 85 pivots aside to permit ejection. By pulling thecase 13 again to partly open position and releasing, the next coin 76 issimilarly ejected, and by a repeated pumping action all coins (if thereare any more) are rejected.

. Adjustment of the apparatus, its operation with a particular selectionof coins (a nickel and a penny) and its rejection and return of adeficiency of coins (two pennies) have been described. The apparatushas, however, greater versatility, as will not be explained by severalillustrations.

Suppose that the mechanism 25a has been set, as described above, for anickel and a penny, but that two nickels are inserted. The secondnickel, in falling, will rock the respective pawl 50 aside. Moreover,because the pawl has been set to trap a nickel and a penny, the secondnickel will extend above the normal level of the surface 57 of pawl 50and, as a consequence, it will hold the pawl aside; i.e., the secondnickel will inactivate the pawl. The hook 58 will not, therefore,deflect; the case 13 will remain locked; and the two nickels will bereturned when the handle 19 is pumped, exactly as the two pennies in theillustration above.

In general, therefore, the pawl 50 will accept and operate with oneparticular coin combination and no other, and it will reject and returnall other coin combinations.

Suppose, now, that it is desired to dispense newspapers at a price often cents, and that it also is desired to accept each of the followingcoin ten cent combinations: One dime, two nickels, one nickel plus fivepennies, and ten pennies. The coin slots 20a and 2% (see Figure 1) arepreferably of a size that the left-hand slot 20a will take a dime andpennies but is not long enough to take nickels as well as pennies.Instructions will be placed on the frame 11 adjacent the slots 20a and20b, to insert a dime or ten pennies in the slot 20a and two nickels ora nicke plus five pennies in the slot 20b.

Two pawls 50 will be employed for each of the mechanisms 25a and 25b.For convenience of description, the two pawls of mechanism 25a will bereferred to as the dime pawl" and the penny paw and the two pawls of themechanisms 25b will be referred to as the double nickel pawl and thenickel-penny pawl.

The dime pawl will be adjusted in the manner explained above (or withthe aid of a gauge strip), to accept one dime; and the penny pawl willbe adjusted'to accept ten pennies. Similarly, the double nickel andnickel-penny pawls will be adjusted to accept two nickels and a nickelplus five pennies, respectively.

Assume now that a dime is inserted in the slot 20a. It will activate thedime pawl and will act to unlatch the case 13. Meanwhile the penny pawlwill be inactive because it is located far above an inserted dime. As:sume, now, that ten pennies are inserted in slot 20a. They will activatethe penny pawl. Meanwhile the bottom penny (which has a greater diameterthan a dime) will inactivate the dime pawl by holding it to one side.

It will be apparent that the double nickel and nickelpenny pawls of themechanism 25b will operate similarly to accept two nickels (thenickel-penny pawl remaining inactive) or a nickel and five pennies (thedouble nickel pawl being held inactive).

Another facet of the versatile character of the mechanism of theinvention is as follows: Suppose that the ten cent price assumed aboveis for weekday papers and that a Sunday paper costs twenty cents. Insuch case the device may be fitted with a double dime pawl, a dimetwonickel pawl, a four nickel pawl and a dime-nickelfive penny pawl. Thesepawls will be properly located in the adjustment slots 45, but they willbe held back in inactive positions by clamps (not shown) on weekdays.When a deliveryman delivers Sunday papers, he will release these pawlsand will apply the clamps to the weekday pawls, thereby setting themachine for the four Sunday combinations, i.e., two dimes; one dime andtwo nickels; for nickels; and a dime-nickel-five penny com bination.

It will, therefore, be apparent that a coin operated dispensingmechanism has been provided which is very simple in its construction andwhich has several very significant advantages. Thus, it is very easilyand speedily adjusted for any particular selection of coins desired. Theperson making the adjustment needs no particular skill. The most he hasto do is select the coins for each of the mechanisms 25a and 25b asdesired, place them in the respective chutes 43, then adjust therespective gauging pawls 50 to trap the proper selection of coins anddeflect the hooks 58 enough to permit opening the case 13, and thentighten the wing nuts 47 to clamp the pawls 50 in proper positions. Evenmore conveniently, the device may be supplied with gauging strips.

The versatility of the device is very great; it lends itself to use fornewspapers of many diiferent prices; it will accept many coincombinations; and it returns all rejected coins. The apparatus is inessence so simple and involves so few working parts that it is notlikely to get out of adjustment or repair.

I claim:

1. A coin operated mechanism of the character described comprising avertical coin chute having open upper and lower ends; a coin trap pawllocated between said ends, normally lying athwart said chute, rocking toone side to permit downward passage of coins and rocking back to normalposition to limit upward movement of coins in said chute, said trap pawlbeing adjustable lengthwise of said chute; a latch hook mounted beneathsaid chute for up and down movement in the direction of and away fromthe lower end of said chute and also for opening and closingsubstantially horizontal movement; resilient means acting normally tohold said hook inarelatively elevated, latching position but allowingdownward deflection of the hook in response to a sufficient force to anunlatched position; a cam member moving with said hook and having a riseportion underlying said chute and acting, when the hook undergoesopening movement, to lift coinsin the chute, said cam member having alsoa recede portion acting to eject coins when the hook undergoes closingmovement; and a guard pawl mounted to rock in a vertical plane adjacentone edge of the lower end of said chute, said guard pawl actingby itsmass to prevent improper ejection of coins but rocking aside to permitproper ejection of coins.

A coin operated device of the type which accepts a predetermined coinselection and acts to return other coin selections, said devicecomprising: a frame having a catch member thereon; a latch mounted forforward opening movement and for retractive return movement relativelyto the frame and also mounted pivotally for pivoting between a latchingposition wherein the latch engages the catch member during said forwardmovement to prevent completion of such movement and a release positionwherein the latch clears the catch member during forward movement topermit complete forward movement, and means normally holding said latchin its latching position but yielding to an opposing force to allow thelatch to move to its release position; an upright coin chute having anopen upper end for insertion of coins and an open lower end, and a coinreceptacle beneath said chute for reception of accepted coins droppingfrom the lower end of the chute; a lateral coin passage beneath saidchute and above said coin receptacle adapted to pass and return coinsdropped from the lower end of the chute and deflected laterally; atrapping pawl located between the upper and lower ends of the chute,having a normal position athwart said chute in the path of travel ofcoins therein, pivotally mounted so as to pass dropping coins and havinga bottom contact surface engageable with coins in said chute; and cammeans for pivoting said latch and'for deflecting nonaccepted coins, saidcam means being associated and moving with saidlatch, having a riseportion which acts to lift coins in said chute during forward movementof the latch and which exerts a downward thrust on the latch to move thesame toits release position when a predetermined coin selection istrapped between said rise and the contact surface of said pawl, said cammeans also having a deflector portion which, during return movement ofthe latch, while the latch is in its latching position, contacts thebottom coin in said chute and deflects the same laterally into saidlateral coin passage.

3. A coin operated device of the type which accepts a predetermined coinselection and acts to return other coin selections, said devicecomprising: a frame having a catch member thereon; a latch mounted forforward opening movement and for retractive return movement relativelyto the frame and also mounted pivotally for pivoting between a latchingposition wherein the latch engages the catch member during said forwardmovement to prevent completion of such movement and a release positionwherein the latch clears the catch member during forward movement topermit complete forward movement, and means normally holding said latchin its latching position but yielding to an opposing force to allow thelatch tomove to its release position; an upright coin chutehaving anopen upper end for insertion of coins and an open lower end, and a coinreceptacle beneath said chute for reception of accepted coins droppingfrom the lower end of the chute; a lateral coin passage beneath saidchute and above said coin receptacle adapted to pass and return coinsdropped from the lower end of the chute and deflected laterally; atrapping pawl located between the upper and lower ends of the chute,having a normal position athwart said chute in the path of travel ofcoins therein, pivotally mounted so as to pass dropping coins and havinga bottom contact sur face engageable with coins in said chute; and cammeans for pivoting said latch and for deflecting nonaccepted coins, saidcam means being attached to said latch, having a rise portion which actsto lift coins in said chute during forward movement of the latch andwhich exerts a downward thrust on the latch to move the same to itsrelease position when a predetermined coin selection is trapped betweensaid rise and the contact surface of said pawl, said cam means alsohaving a, deflector portion which, duringreturn movement of the latch,while the latch is in its latching position, contacts the bottom coin insaidchute and deflects the same laterally into said lateral coinpassage.

I 4. The device of claim 3 wherein said pawl swings in a planetransverse to the plane of the chute.

References Cited in the file of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS 355,049Great Britain of 1931

